Ex-bureaucrat Kanwaljeet Singh Cheema joins SAD

CHANDIGARH: Former IAS officer Kanwaljeet Singh Cheema joined the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday in the presence of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal. Cheema, a 1993-batch IAS officer of the West Bengal cadre, had earlier served as special principal secretary to former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on inter-cadre deputation. Welcoming him into the party, Badal said Cheema’s induction would further strengthen the SAD. Addressing the media, Badal said Cheema brings extensive administrative experience from both Punjab and West Bengal. He added that Cheema had also served as special principal secretary to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. The SAD president recalled that during his tenure with Parkash Singh Badal, Cheema had accompanied him on ‘Sangat Darshan’ programmes aimed at resolving public grievances. Lashing out at the AAP government, Badal claimed that Punjab received only ₹2,600 crore in investments between 2022 and 2026, contrary to the Bhagwant Mann government’s claims of ₹1.50 lakh crore. The government, he alleged, was spreading “lies” to mislead people. He also criticised the state government over the law and order situation, alleging “lawlessness” in the state where gangsters are “ruling the roost”.